Wednesday, October 31, 2007

The Wells County Genealogy Society is working on an every-name index to the Wells County deed books and is currently about halfway through indexing these 55 volumes. When complete, the index is expected to be published in both book and CD format.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

The North Webster Community Public Library (301 N. Main St., P.O. Box 8, North Webster IN 46555) will be hosting a Genealogy Roundtable on Monday, November 12 from 10 am to noon in their Local History and Genealogy Center. For more information, phone (574) 834-7122.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Searching for the families of Joseph Barkley (born 1822) from Kentucky, who married Barbara Denton (born 1828) of Harrison County, Indiana. They moved to Iowa, as their first son William C. Barkley was born there in 1850; they settled in Cedar County, Missouri by 1850-1860.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

The Franklin County Cemetery Commission, The Citizens for Historic Preservation and Joe Jarzen of the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana have formed a group to help raise money to restore Old Brookville Cemetery, which was heavily vandalized in August 2007. Thanks to generous donations from residents and various organizations (including area churches), they have raised $18,000. The restoration of the cemetery will probably begin in the spring of 2008. For more information on the project, please contact Julie Schlesselman (julie@wvcl.org)

Marjorie Weiler-Powell has created an index to the oaths of intention and naturalization records for Franklin County, Indiana. The naturalization records (which are on microfilm) and the index are both available at Brookville Community Library. For more information on the index, please contact Julie Schlesselman (julie@wvcl.org)

Russell Wilhoit, Indiana County Genealogist for Decatur County, has been picked to lead the newly-resurrected Decatur County Cemetery Commission. The commission, which was last in existence in the 1980's, focuses on the care of cemeteries, particularly pioneer cemeteries (those with the earliest of burials).

Friday, October 26, 2007

Searching for information on the ancestry of Lyle Adair who was born near Logansport, Cass County, Indiana on 11 March 1843. His parents were Benjamin and Nancy T. Adair. He died in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana in 1918.

"Ancestor Hunters," the Genealogical Interest Group of the Delaware County Historical Society, will meet on Monday, October 29 at 6:30 pm at their Resource Centre in Muncie (located at 120 E. Washington St., Muncie IN 47305). Video will be shown of a presentation by the late Ting Morris on what you can learn from cemeteries. The program is free and open to the public.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

The Scott County Genealogical Society has published Scott County Births & Deaths 1820-1999 (556 pages). It is a compilation of birth and death information on Scott County residents, as submitted by researchers, and it includes a surname index. The cost is $35 +$5 shipping & handling (Indiana residents must also add $2.40 for sales tax). Make checks payable to Scott County Genealogical Society, Inc. and mail to: Scott County Genealogical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 23, Scottsburg IN 47170.

Monday, October 22, 2007

The Indiana African American Genealogy Group (http://www.indyafriamgen.org) will hold their 4th Annual African American Genealogy and History Workshop on Saturday, November 3 from 9 am to 3:30 pm at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis. Dr. Deborah A. Abbott and Tim Pinnick will present topics for both beginners and advanced researchers, and there will also be an expert in the computer lab to lead a research session online. Registration for the workshop is $25 for IAAGG members or $35 for non-members (there will be a $5 surcharge for those who register at the door). The workshop brochure (including registration form) is available at http://www.indyafriamgen.org/IAAGGworkshop.pdf

Saturday, October 20, 2007

I do not know much about my family past my grandparents. My great-grandmother was Leona Maybelle Roberts, born April 17, 1896 in Oxford, Benton County, Indiana to Frank L. Roberts (born August 1863 in Ohio; died after 1910) and Effie E. (born September 1871 in Indiana; died after 1910). Leona had siblings:

--Lloyd R. Roberts (born April 1892 in Indiana; died after 1910)--Ward M. Roberts (born June 1894 in Indiana; died after 1910)--Arthur A. Roberts (born about 1908 in Oklahoma; died after 1910)

Frank L. Roberts was a stonemason or brickmason and the family was in the 1900 census in Hickory Grove Township, Benton County, Indiana, then in the 1910 census in Blackwell, Kay County, Oklahoma.

Leona Roberts married C.O. Beard (born 1895) in Genda, Kansas, in 1912. Leona and her husband, Jack Beard (born about 1887 in Kansas) are in the 1920 census in Vernon Township, Kay County, Oklahoma. Their son, Turley Duane Beard (born about 1914 in Kansas), was my grandfather. He married Alta Pierce and had 4 kids.

If anyone knows any information on the Beards or Roberts families, please let me know.

Mrs. Benjamin Cooper (Easter) died circa 1827, and is buried in Fulton County, Indiana, probably in the Sand Hills Cemetery. Her daughter, Sarah (Sally) was married to William Polke. It is presumed that she came to live with William and Sally after the death of her husband in Shelby County, Kentucky. The last name, Easter, is what is listed in the will for Benjamin Cooper, and also the name given on the marital permission for Sally. Does anyone have access to the inscription on her gravestone, that they could see if it lists her birth and death dates?

John A. Jefferson and wife, Tempeanna Downey (born about 1840 in Ohio), married October 3, 1860. Tempeanna may have been a native Indian. They had two children, William Oliver Jefferson (born 1863) and Charles (born 1864). Tempeanna Jefferson is listed as the head of household in the 1870 census for Liberty Township, Wabash County, Indiana. I am looking for John A. Jefferson's date of death in Wabash County, Indiana--tradition has it that he was killed by Indians.

I am looking for information on George Washington Murphy (born about 1802 in Ohio) who died on March 5, 1861. He was married to Mary "Polly" Shoemaker (born about 1805 in Ohio) and they were in the 1850 and 1860 censuses in Mound Township, Warren County, Indiana. They had children:

--James (born about 1833 in Indiana)--Sarah (born about 1834 in Indiana)--Jacob (born about 1835 in Indiana)--Henry (born about 1838 in Indiana)--Harriet (born about 1842 in Indiana)--Joshua (born about 1843 in Indiana)--Mathew (born about 1845 in Indiana)--James (born about 1849 in Indiana)

Jackson County Historian Charlotte Sellers spoke before the Jackson County Commissioners recently and asked them to take steps to protect and make accessible the county's records, some of which date back to 1816. She noted the presence of mold on some early court records. In response, the commissioners have asked her to form a committee to investigate the possibility of creating an archive or other kind of storage facility.

Sellers is inviting genealogical and historical societies, independent researchers, the Jackson County Records Commission, and school corporations, as well as those in the media and legal community, to participate in the committee. In addition, members of Leadership Jackson County will be asked to help inventory the records.

Input from anyone who has had experience setting up a county archive is welcomed. Charlotte Sellers may be contacted at (812) 522-3412 ext. 240.

Seymour Museum, Inc. is having a fundraiser at the Riverview Cemetery in Seymour, Indiana on Saturday, November 10 at 2 pm. The cemetery is observing its 125th anniversary, and there will be a tour offered of the cemetery, with volunteers offering colorful profiles of some of the area's settlers, such as the Honorable Jason B. Brown, an often-married lawyer accused by Detective Allen Pinkerton of defending members of the Reno Gang while under retainer to the Adams Express Company.

Tickets for the cemetery tour are $6.99 through November 3, then they will be $9.99. Tickets may be picked up from: Artistic Impressions, 127 W. Second St., Seymour IN 47274. If you order a copy of Saving Seymour Stories: Bits From the First 50 Years (cost $17.99), you'll get two free tickets.

Questions about the event may be directed to Charlotte Sellers, Jackson County Historian and Seymour Museum board member--phone (812) 522-3412 ext. 240.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Looking for any info on my grandmother Martha Hardesty who married Thomas E. Blacketer(born January 19,1914; died November 1987; son of Thomas Blacketer and Mary Martin) in Rockville, Parke County, Indiana.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

The Bartholomew County Genealogical Society (P.O. Box 2455, Columbus IN 47202) will meet October 27 at 1 pm in the Basement Conference Room of the Bartholomew County Public Library in Columbus, Indiana. There will be a program about what how to find out about local resources and use that in long-distance research.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Here are the statistics on the Indiana Marriage Indexing Project through the end of September--note that we have indexed almost 400,000 records! FYI, FamilySearch is working on getting some of our records ready to put online shortly, so watch for them!

Sunday, October 14, 2007

The Randolph County Historical Society continues to make progress in its restoration of the Old Winchester Graveyard (originally known as Heaston Cemetery), which is located on Western Avenue in Winchester, Indiana. This pioneer cemetery was established in 1844 and was an active site for burials until the 1890’s.

When the restoration project was first started in 2004, only 7 tombstones were left standing out of the 200+ people known to be buried there (including several veterans of the War of 1812 and the Civil War). Thanks to extensive work by cemetery restoration experts, 80 tombstones have been discovered buried underground thus far, with more expected to be found.

It is an expensive process to reset, restore and/or replace the grave markers—over $9,000 has been spent on the project thus far, and there are also plans to ensure the continued care and maintenance of the graveyard after the restoration project is completed.

The Randolph County Historical Society received a cemetery preservation grant from the Indiana Genealogical Society in 2006 to help with the project, and has also developed an “Adopt A Pioneer” fundraising program, where for $150 (the cost of restoring one tombstone) donors can adopt one of the pioneers buried there and get assistance in finding out about their lives.

Donations are tax-deductible. Checks should be made payable to Randolph County Historical Society and mailed to: Old Winchester Graveyard Restoration Fund, Randolph County Historical Society, 416 S. Meridian St., Winchester IN 47394.

For more information, please contact Sharon Smith, the co-chair of the restoration committee—phone (765) 584-7663 or e-mail sharonhome@insightbb.com

Friday, October 12, 2007

I am trying to find out information about my baby sister, Bonita Gay Banton, who was born October 3, 1943 and was 3 months, 15 days old at her death. She was buried in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana. I am hitting a brick wall and do not know where to go.

I am looking for information regarding a Mac Townsend and Maggie Crawford. They were the parents of Ralph Potter Townsend, who was born on January 27, 1883 in Mt. Vernon, Posey County, Indiana. I would like to find a birth record for Ralph Potter Townsend or a marriage record for Mac Townsend and Maggie Crawford--I'm sure that "Mac" is probably a nickname, but that is what was listed on the death record for Ralph Townsend.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

I am looking for a death notice and any history on a ?Carson? Savari. He died in a car train wreck, possibly in the mid 1970's. I am not sure if the name is spelled correctly, but he may have had a son, also named Carson, who would be about 50 years old. Carson--the dad--most likely lived in South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana and was married. Any information concerning the elder Savari would be helpful.

I am trying to trace the family of my great-grandmother, Josephine B. Fuerbach (or Feuerbach). She was born December 1868 in Indiana to Michael F. Feuerbach (born about 1842 in Bayern, Germany) and Barbara Weitzel or Whitesell (born about 1846 in Ohio), who married January 31, 1867 in Vanderburgh County, Indiana.

Michael and Barbara Feuerbach were in the 1880 census in Evansville. They had other children:--John (born about 1870 in Indiana)--Rosa (born about 1872 in Indiana)--Michael (born about 1874 in Indiana)--Matilda (born about 1877 in Indiana)

Josephine Fuerbach was married April 21, 1886 in Vanderburgh County, Indiana to Charles G. Phipps (born August 1862 in District of Columbia; son of William Phipps and Sarah Lawrence). In the 1900 census they lived in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana.

Charles and Josephine Phipps had at least three kids:--Charles G. (born December 1886 in Kentucky)--Rose/Rosa M. (born May 1891 in Ohio)--Emmet M. (born September 1893 in Ohio)

I'm trying to locate the ancestor in my family who came over from Ireland (name, date, etc.) I have traced back to James Garrity, who married Catherine Burris of Boone County, Indiana. They had a son, James Norman Garrity (born February 23, 1890; died January 25, 1961), who married Edna Myrtle Means (born September 8, 1892 in Shelby County, Indiana; died July 30, 1957). Edna was the daughter of Charles Harrison (Harry Means??) and Ollie Etta Dake.

I am seeking information about my great-great-grandfather, Dillon Brooks Brown. He was born April 26, 1826. He came by wagon train from Washington County, Ohio as a small child. As they traveled from Ohio, his parents were killed in a wagon train accident near Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana. He had one brother and they were each taken in by different families and lost contact. He remained in the Crawfordsville area and married Susannah Hendricks March 7, 1850 in Montgomery County. This history was told to me by my father and uncle. I cannot find any other information about him while he lived in Indiana or any record of the wagon train accident. I do not know his parents' names. I also would be interested to know Susannah Hendricks parents' names and her siblings.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

The Wabash County Genealogical Society will meet October 15 at 6 pm at the Grandstaff/Hentgen Funeral Home (1241 Manchester Ave., Wabash IN). Parking, as well as the entrance to the meeting room, is located in the rear of the building. John Dunnagan, Vice Chief of the Miami Indian Nation of Indiana, will give a program about the history of the Miami Indians, who were among the early settlers of Wabash County.

Monday, October 8, 2007

--October 13--The GSMC will meet at 11 am at the LDS Family History Center west of the Indianapolis Zoo (110 N. White River Parkway, Indianapolis IN). Sharon Kennedy will give a CD presentation of visits to areas of Germany and Luxembourg, including several German archives and the Luxembourg American Military Cemetery.

--November 10--The GSMC will meet at 11 am at the LDS Family History Center west of the Indianapolis Zoo (110 N. White River Parkway, Indianapolis IN). Ron Darrah will speak on probate records.

--December 8--The GSMC will meet at 11 am at the Crown Hill Cemetery Waiting Station (West 34th Street and Boulevard Place; enter from the back of the building) for their annual meeting, annual conference, pitch-in and show & tell.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Memberships in the Indiana Genealogical Society are now being accepted for 2008! Libraries and organizations, as well as individuals, are welcome. Membership is based on the calendar year, so all memberships will expire December 31, 2008.

Friday, October 5, 2007

It’s too bad we can’t get to those county clerks who decided to use their own forms and do things differently! They sure are complicating life for this project at times.

Number of marriages – leave the field empty if the answer is first, 1st, First. If the answer is once or 2, then index it exactly as it is written. The overall rule is that we never count this marriage – we only want to know about previous marriages, if any.

License date field – can’t really do anything with it except mark it blank if no license date is given. After given different instructions earlier, I’ve realized that putting the marriage year in that field is going to be misleading to future researchers. I actually had that very problem (still do) with one of my ancestors. The license date was included with some marriage dates for other couples and it has been published on the Internet in many places as the marriage date. Once that false information is out there, it’s really hard to get the correct information accepted.